A look at the options open to the Minister for Finance ahead of today's budget
INCOME TAX CHANGES
Introduce a levy on income above a certain earnings threshold
Increase the top rate of tax from 41 per cent
Remove the cap on PRSI contributions - currently employees only pay PRSI of 4 per cent on the first €50,700 of their income
PENSION CHANGES
Halve the tax relief on pensions for those earning more than € 35,000 a year
Change tax relief for pension contributions from marginal to standard rate of 20 per cent
Impose restrictions on the total amount which can be claimed for pensions relief
NEW TAXES
A travel tax of €5 - €10 per on each airline ticket purchase
A carbon tax
A levy on health insurance
VAT CHANGES
Increase tax on cigarettes and alcohol
Increase VAT on petrol by 3-4 cent
OTHERS
Increase college registration fees by 50 per cent from €980 to €1,500
SPENDING CUTS
Reduce the early childcare supplement from its current level of €1,100
Stop child benefit payments for children over 16
Change the drug refund scheme by introducing income thresholds and raise qualification limit
Introduce means-testing for a free medical card for the over-70s
Postpone a number of capital spending projects including: plans to build a new Abbey Theatre; the Metro North project; the Western Rail corridor north of Tuam, Co Galway.